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Springtime on Neptune – 1998 Image of Neptune
About the Object
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.The semi-major axis of Neptune's orbit about the Sun is 30.06 Astronomical Units (A.U.) or roughly 4.5 billion km.
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.The planet has a diameter of roughly 30,800 miles (49,600 km) at the equator.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.These data are from HST proposals 6650, 7324 and 9393. The science team includes: L. A. Sromovsky, P. M. Fry, and S. S. Limaye (University of Wisconsin-Madison's Space Science and Engineering Center), and K. Baines (JPL).
- InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>WFPC2
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.August 11-12, 1998
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F467M (Strömgren b), F673N ([S II]), and F850LP (9650Å)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.Neptune
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Planet
- Release DateMay 15, 2003
- Science ReleaseBrighter Neptune Suggests a Planetary Change of Seasons
- CreditNASA, L. Sromovsky, and P. Fry (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov